Jerry Reid, Gov. Janet Mills’ pick to be environmental commissioner, comes under fire from the Penobscot Nation for his role in water-quality cases as an assistant attorney general.
Politics
Political news and information from the Sun Journal.
Will Roger Stone flip on Trump? His answers about it are weird.
Analysis: The denials from the president’s adviser don’t sound like Frank Pentangeli.
Republicans signal desire to de-escalate battle over wall
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticizes the two tactics President Trump has threatened to employ if negotiators can’t craft a border security accord to his liking.
Maine hires point person to roll out legal pot sales
Erik Gundersen worked previously as lead policy adviser for the Legislature’s Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee.
Solar supporters urge Maine lawmakers to restore financial incentives
Hoping to capitalize on a shift in the political climate, installers and other advocates for solar energy want homeowners to again receive credit for feeding electricity back into the grid.
Election reform bills include effort to expand ranked-choice voting to state races
Several measures to change state and local primary elections and boost clean elections funding also are on the docket at the State House.
Health groups take aim at insurance companies’ medication policies
A pending bill would give doctors and patients more say when insurance companies balk at reimbursement and require them to try less expensive alternatives to prescribed medication or treatment.
Lawmakers push to make drivers keep their hands off their phones
Supporters of new legislation believe their latest effort to strengthen Maine’s distracted-driving laws has brighter prospects with Democrat Janet Mills in the Blaine House.
First 4 Mills Cabinet nominees get unanimous committee support at Legislature
The nominees to lead the departments of transportation, marine resources, community and economic development and administration and financial services must now be approved by the state Senate.
Jared Golden sponsors bill to withhold congressional pay during shutdowns
Following the five-week closure of much of the federal government, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden has introduced a bipartisan measure that calls for withholding the pay of members of Congress, the president and vice president during a government shutdown. The Solidarity in Salary Act of 2019 “will help prevent the American people from being political pawns […]